Monday, July 23, 2007

The long run

Yesterday was the first long run – seven miles – of this training session. I was reminded with nearly every footfall of that time last January I ran seven miles on the treadmill. Quelle boring! But outside, on a little-traveled road, in the country, along a river? It was lovely!

I might have gone faster if a bear had been on my tail. Or if someone had dangled a donut on a stick just out of my reach. Seven 12-minute miles were sandwiched between 16-minute warm-up and cool-down miles. So nine total in less than two hours.

If my last – and only! – experience with race training holds true, I'll continue to get faster and take fewer walking breaks as my endurance improves. I had to stop and walk four or five times yesterday morning.

The other thing I remember from last January's treadmill run is that I didn't do anything the rest of the day except read and nap. Not so this time. I did a couple loads of laundry, emptied the dishwasher, fixed lunch and dinner – in other words, I continued with my normal routine.

I'm glad today's a rest-from-exercise day, though.

Because we were on the road, I didn't weigh myself last Friday. I hopped on the scale this morning and am down one pound. I hope to make another dent in it this week.

My new favorite breakfast is a smoothie made with Activia Light Vanilla Yogurt, half a cup of skim milk and a scoop of chocolate-flavored protein powder. Thirty-two grams of rib-sticking protein and only two grams of fat, and about 250 calories. I wasn't hungry for hours afterward.

Rereading this post, I can't imagine that anyone is still awake, if you've even made it this far. It sounds like a second-grader's "what I did on my summer vacation" theme. Running seven miles has apparently sapped my ability to write. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

Hope you have a great Monday!

5 comments:

365 Dresses said...

Ha! I'm awake and up. Finished with my writing for the day and ready to go for my run. Late July weather this nice needs to be cherished. Didn't think you would've posted yet---but checked anyway!
Keep up the good work. I do read you every day.

ws said...

for weeks I've been thinking running has sapped my ability to write anything worthwhile!

I always take walk breaks when I drink fluids or eat gel, beans, etc. I try to avoid waiting until I "have to stop" and this has been a good strategy for me. Actually, I felt the same way back in January when I first started doing long runs and I miss that 'dazed and confused' feeling that lasted for hours after my body stopped moving.

Kristi said...

Not boring at all in fact I so relate. I walk ,fast, usually at least 6 miles a day. In the past I too was "done" for the day, but not anymore. When that sluggish feeling starts to set in I now have one or all three of my children bike with me. We do a medium to slow pace 3 miles into town, I get water, they get a treat at the local store and then we head home. There's a lovely pond etc... my point I get rejuvenated to do more things the rest of the day. Maybe you and Mr Shrinking knitter would enjoy a little bike ride together as well. Keep up the good work and know your writing is never boring.

Lori G. said...

Not boring to me. The key phrase is you continued. You're training. You're out there.

(I do love the mental image of a runner with a stick coming out of his/her tank top with another stick dangling a donut in front of him/her.)

Glad you're back!

Laura N said...

Yay! Great job. That is awesome, all around. Keep it up girl!